The New I-40 (Construction Updates)

[mburlison]

That would be a totally unneeded expense based on the generally moderate amount of traffic we normally have on our freeways.

Agreed.

[mburlison]

That's pretty much my point. I'm not comparing it to other major cities, I'm speaking for OKC, not every city with over 1 million people in its metro even though there are far worse (I've been to far worse that are smaller than OKC). Thanks for clarifying though.

Too me, tagging is tantamount to taking a dump on someone's front porch. It should not be tolerated, offenders should be severely punished. It is wonton and felonious destruction of property considering the $$ involved. It is of no importance to me that these "taggers" are "expressing themselves the only outlet they have". They can be busy painting County and State property for many years if that is the case.

[Plutonic Panda]

I'm just curious, does anybody know what the speed limit on this freeway will be. I really hope it isn't 60mph because I like driving faster. I like 70 better but thats just me. But does anybody know.

[Plutonic Panda]

Yeah I guess right, but I think that they should reserve lanes for future HOV lanes when OKC grows.

[Larry OKC]

Since we have a separate thread for the replacement Boulevard, I posted it over there:
http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.ph...010#post547010

[Larry OKC]

I'm just curious, does anybody know what the speed limit on this freeway will be. I really hope it isn't 60mph because I like driving faster. I like 70 better but thats just me. But does anybody know.

The new Crosstown is open to traffic but construction/completion of the project is another 2 to 3 years away according to ODOT. Keep that in mind when reading this info from Wiki but...

The new Crosstown will have ten lanes for traffic traveling at 70 miles per hour (110 km/h), despite the current speed limit of 60 mph. It is being designed to carry 170,000 vehicles per day, and will have shoulders for disabled vehicles. Over 95% of current traffic on the Crosstown is through traffic, not transferring to or from downtown streets.
• NOTE: Speed Limit on I-40 is 55 mph in construction zones through downtown Oklahoma City.

[Snowman]

While the road was designed so it would be safe to travel at 70, there has been indication it will still be 60, given many people speed five to ten anyway it make sense to have some padding above the posted speed.

[Pete]

Yesterday, I left downtown at 5:30 and took Shields to I-40 west.

Incredibly easy to get to the interstate and I didn't hit my brakes once, even in the transition to I-44 north.


I really think OKC has more excess freeway capacity than any mid- or large-sized city. I know there are some surface intersections that can get backed up but I've been driving around for almost a week and have yet to see even the slightest hint of a traffic problem.

[OKCisOK4me]

Go to Memorial & Penn...5 o'clock ;-)

[BoulderSooner]

Yesterday, I left downtown at 5:30 and took Shields to I-40 west.

Incredibly easy to get to the interstate and I didn't hit my brakes once, even in the transition to I-44 north.


I really think OKC has more excess freeway capacity than any mid- or large-sized city. I know there are some surface intersections that can get backed up but I've been driving around for almost a week and have yet to see even the slightest hint of a traffic problem.

because for the most part there is not one ...

the "worst" spot ..... go north on 235 from downtown at 515 pretty busy until you get past 44 ..... south on I35 out of down town .. pretty slow until you are past I240

[Bellaboo]

I'd say I-235 backs up southbound just south of 23rd st anytime after 4:15 or so. For a couple of miles there, folks in the left lane want in the right lane, and folks in the right lane want in the left lane.

[Pete]

Go to Memorial & Penn...5 o'clock ;-)

Yeah, I know there are some choke points on surface streets but believe me, even than is nothing compared to see what you see in other cities.

[kevinpate]

I'd say I-235 backs up southbound just south of 23rd st anytime after 4:15 or so. For a couple of miles there, folks in the left lane want in the right lane, and folks in the right lane want in the left lane.

And most of them have CSD ... chronic signal deficiency

[Larry OKC]

Yesterday, I left downtown at 5:30 and took Shields to I-40 west.

Incredibly easy to get to the interstate and I didn't hit my brakes once, even in the transition to I-44 north.


I really think OKC has more excess freeway capacity than any mid- or large-sized city. I know there are some surface intersections that can get backed up but I've been driving around for almost a week and have yet to see even the slightest hint of a traffic problem.

I was downtown a week or two ago and spent a lot of time back tracking trying to find access to I-40 East...directional signage was limited...after crossing over main streets with no access a few times, turning around and trying again finally worked my way over to Shields but even there, didn't know what lane I needed to be in for the on-ramp. The Penn & Western interchanges are a bear around 3:30 pm. Badly timed traffic lights getting on/over I-40. Cars can't move thru the intersection because traffic is already backed up in front of them and not moving because their light is still red etc.

[rcjunkie]

Go to Memorial & Penn...5 o'clock ;-)

Since when did Penn and Memorial become an expressway ?

[rcjunkie]

I was downtown a week or two ago and spent a lot of time back tracking trying to find access to I-40 East...directional signage was limited...after crossing over main streets with no access a few times, turning around and trying again finally worked my way over to Shields but even there, didn't know what lane I needed to be in for the on-ramp. The Penn & Western interchanges are a bear around 3:30 pm. Badly timed traffic lights getting on/over I-40. Cars can't move thru the intersection because traffic is already backed up in front of them and not moving because their light is still red etc.

I-40 East is easy to find, there are several signs with the directions to I-40 E and I-40 W.

[soonermike81]

Do you guys know if there will be more off-ramps added in the future along I-40 eastbound? Or westbound for that matter? Seems like a pain that there are only eastbound exits for Western and Shields near downtown. I wish they would add the Walker exit back in like they used to have it. Sorry if this has already been discussed, don't have time right now to sift through 60 pages.

[jn1780]

Do you guys know if there will be more off-ramps added in the future along I-40 eastbound? Or westbound for that matter? Seems like a pain that there are only eastbound exits for Western and Shields near downtown. I wish they would add the Walker exit back in like they used to have it. Sorry if this has already been discussed, don't have time right now to sift through 60 pages.

Just the westbound onramp between Agnew and May. The boulevard is controlled access all the way to Walker. Much to the dismay of many.

[Snowman]

Do you guys know if there will be more off-ramps added in the future along I-40 eastbound? Or westbound for that matter? Seems like a pain that there are only eastbound exits for Western and Shields near downtown. I wish they would add the Walker exit back in like they used to have it. Sorry if this has already been discussed, don't have time right now to sift through 60 pages.

Much of the downtown access is intended to be from the boulevard along the old i40 route. It will use the old rams between Penn and Western, then have at grade intersections with Walker, Hudson, Robinson, Shields/EKG and Oklahoma.

ODOT did not make options to new exits if the ones are deemed not enough, possibly an eastbound on ramp could be put at the Reno/Lincoln corner but several places they would have to dig out the retaining wall to add a ramp and it will be unlikely they could fit one between the highway and the train tracks.

[soonermike81]

thanks guys

[Larry OKC]

I-40 East is easy to find, there are several signs with the directions to I-40 E and I-40 W.

Sounds like I needed you riding shotgun and doing the navigating as I saw very few signs pointing the way...

[OKCisOK4me]

I guess I'll put this here since, technically, it ties into the new I-40. Future ramps for the west interchange to connect to the future boulevard:

http://youtu.be/Gs0JLpVhCHE

Shot this evening.

[Spartan]

I have been thinking lately that the eastbound onramp to the boulevard around Penn is going to have some breathtaking skyline views.

[OKCisOK4me]

Also, new construction and destruction progressing quite fast around Agnew:

http://youtu.be/4eY2Bdvb4gY

[jccouger]

So how many more years until I40 is really finished?